GALLERY

Speaking of Dwight Howard, Smith just really shouldn’t

It’s always fun when someone in the media takes a shot at someone else in the media.

This comes to us from one of Gallery’s most favorite contributors, Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, writing about Stephen A. Smith, one of Gallery’s most favorite targets. It comes in the aftermath of center Dwight Howard’s decision not to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract.

“Shame on ESPN loudmouth Stephen A. Smith for saying Dwight Howard owes the New Jersey Nets an apology for actually showing some loyalty and sticking with the Magic. Does Stephen A. also think husbands should apologize for making the decision not to cheat on their wives? Geez, sometimes, I think Stephen A. owes ESPN viewers an apology every time he opens his mouth. … And while we’re on the subject of Stephen A. saying dumb things, let us take you back to 2004 when the Magic drafted Dwight over Emeka Okafor and Stephen A. defiantly declared, “The Orlando Magic cannot play a guessing game. Emeka Okafor is the man. He’s the answer.” If Okafor was the answer, Stephen A. must have forgotten the question.”

Trivia time

The Aztecs men’s basketball team finished the season with 79 blocks. Who led the team in 2010-11 and how many did he have?

Knew you were a punk

From Budd Bailey of the Buffalo (N.Y.) News, after Kansas football coach Charlie Weis says people only think of him as “some arrogant, obnoxious, loudmouth punk from New Jersey": “Not so, Charlie — we didn’t know you were from New Jersey.”

He can fill a diaper

This from Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times: “A woman from Vista gave birth to a 13-pound, 14-ounce boy recently. Mel Kiper Jr., alert as ever, immediately declared him the best line prospect in the 2034 NFL draft.”

Gotcha

Pittsburgh TV station WPXI reported a couple of weeks ago that Ward had signed with the Ravens. The station used a report from a spoof website that also said “Ward was ... the first Steelers player to have a stadium named after him.” Uh, no.

Nevermind that NFL free agency had yet to start.

Trivia answer

Malcolm Thomas led SDSU with 75 blocks. Jamaal Franklin led the team with 20 this season. There’s nothing like a tall man in the middle who can jump.